Why cohabitation rights are so important for a non-married couple
The Family Team at Mayo Wynne Baxter appreciate that marriage isn’t the only type of long term relationship. Many people in the UK decide not to marry, but unfortunately these couples do not have the same legal rights as a married couple.
Did you know that without a cohabitation agreement, if you own a house together and one of you dies before a Will is in place, your partner’s share of the property will go to their blood relatives? The good news, however, is that cohabiting rights govern inheritance, property, and contact and parental responsibility for children for cohabiting couples.
For couples who choose not to marry, understanding your cohabitation rights is therefore extremely important. We don’t want you to be faced with any unforeseen problems should the relationship breakdown or one of you passes away.
Our cohabitation solicitors care about your rights
Our specialist team can work with you to prevent a variety of issues and disputes from occurring by spending the time in creating a Cohabitation Agreement based on your individual circumstances.
This is a simple document that states clearly each of your rights in terms of property, other financial assets and pensions. It can be extended to include provision for any children if needed. You will also need to prepare or amend your wills to reflect your joint agreement.
If your relationship has broken down, there are possible legal remedies open to you through a number of different Statutes. This is a complicated area of law that is subject to changes by interpretation by the Court. You will therefore need to take specialist advice and we can guide you in the right direction.
Contact the Family Law Team today for more specialist cohabitation advice.
